Water treatment analytics: A road map to greater efficiency | Forum

Gaining optimum control over an entire facility requires multiple levels
of analytic instrumentation and software systems working in concert. At
the most basic levels, it involves analyzing the chemistry of source
water entering a plant and effluent leaving it. At higher levels, it
means applying discrete measurements taken from multiple in-line
instruments and analyzers to drive treatment processes for more
cost-effective performance. At the highest levels, chemical water treatment extends to managing not only the process flow of a facility, but also asset maintenance and management.
Instrumentation. Balancing chemical compositions and reactions in
the water flow depends upon accurate readings from a variety of
measurement and analysis instruments (e.g., flow meters, turbidity
analyzers, pH analyzers, dissolved oxygen [DO] sensors, etc.). Whenever
possible, choose designs that maintain tight tolerances, offer robust
design to withstand harsh water conditions, provide reliable readings in
real time, and interface well with higher-level control systems.
Asset Optimization. Producing the best possible outcome from a
treatment process involves exploiting the accurate, real-time data
provided by in-line instrumentation. Look for system solutions that
offer maximum flexibility for the nature of the process, the work
environment, and the people who need to monitor and interact with it.
Asset Management. Once control systems are fine-tuned to optimize
process efficiency, it pays to focus attention on higher-level analytics
to derive maximum value from plant infrastructure. This means
monitoring and managing equipment for long, trouble-free performance
life, a high return on investment (ROI), and lowest total cost of
ownership (TCO).
Target Essential Analytic And Control Goals
Varying source water profiles — in terms of total organic carbon
(TOC), pH, turbidity, etc. — provide different water treatment
challenges. Whatever the water chemistry being measured or the sensing
technology used, solutions that provide real-time in-situ sampling and
share data automatically with plant control systems provide tangible
benefits:
Speed Of Response. Choosing instrumentation that provides the
quickest access to data that defines process flow conditions and enables
the quickest decision-making for maximum efficiency is the first step
to cost efficiency.
Continuous Regulatory Compliance. Knowing the composition of source
water and treated water is critical wherever water chemistry adjustments
are needed to meet compliance guidelines, avoid penalties for
noncompliance, or simply provide the best looking, best tasting water
quality practical.
Efficient And Effective Energy And Chemical Use. Even with the best
instrumentation providing the most accurate, up-to-the-minute readings,
waiting to identify and react to real-world conditions after the fact
can let some opportunities for efficiency slip through the cracks.
Enterprise software for distributed control and asset management can
react to the slightest changes in water chemistries, as well as project
future trends in equipment life, to guide optimal decision-making for
overall best control and operating efficiency.